Strong wind, heavy rains take North Gujarat by surprise

PALANPUR: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds took north Gujarat districts by surprise on Wednesday night. The downpour continued during the early hours of Thursday. The torrential rains uprooted several trees and electricity poles in many parts of north Gujarat and also damaged standing crops in farms.
A number of animals including cows, buffaloes and goats were killed due to lightning.The sudden change in weather was under the influence of cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and neighbourhood as south-westerly winds prevailed over the north Gujarat region.
According to the weather department light thunderstorm with lightning and surface wind up to 30-40 kmph accompanied with light to moderate rain was likely at isolated places in the districts of north and central Gujarat districts like Dahod, Panchmahal, Patan, Kheda, Banaskantha, Chhota Udepur. Rain is also expected at isolated places in Saurashtra region.
Kheralu in Mehsana, Becharji, Vadnagar, Vijapur and Satlasan recorded significant rainfall on Wednesday night and Thursday.
At Hoda village in Dhanpura taluka of Aravalli district four thatched houses collapsed but nobody was injured in the incident. About 27 electricity polls fell in Bhiloda and Modasa towns. One buffalo and 13 goats died due to lightning in Aravalli district. A cow died on Bhiloda-Shamlaji road near Lati village got electrocuted. Angry villagers said that the electricity company was informed prior to the cow’s death, but no action was taken cutting off the electricity supply.
At the Tintoi primary health centre in Modasa, a huge tree fell on an adjacent building but no no casualty was reported.
However, strong winds with rains brought some relief from the sultry heat in the north Gujarat districts. Places such as Modasa, Meghraj, Bayad, Dhansura, Malpur, Bhiloda experienced gusty winds on Thursday morning which was followed by heavy rain.